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In 1997 my body simply gave up and refused to digest the harmful component of MSG, free glutamic acid. My reaction was so severe, eating trace amounts of free glutamic acid just wasn’t an option. As a matter of survival I spent years researching this ingredient and learning everything I could on what it is, what names it is hidden under and how to cook without it. I was devastated to learn that this ingredient is hidden under more than 50 different names in virtually everything in a box, can or bag. All quick and easy meals and items on the grocery store shelf that I was accustomed to eating were no longer options.

My journey has been long but very rewarding. The more I learned about the flavor enhancers, preservatives and chemicals that are added to packaged foods, the more grateful I became for our diet change.This lifestyle has helped my husband and me feel better than we have in years. I am forever grateful for the many people that have taught me what they know about cooking from scratch and those that helped me discover fun and exciting options in the kitchen.

We have found new favorites and love this new lifestyle of cooking. Included here are a collection of recipes using pure and simple ingredients. My hope is they bring the same pleasure and enjoyment to your home as they have to ours.

The dairy/egg free recipes are from our experience with our dairy/egg allergic daughter.

1. Take the paté fermentée out of the refrigerator 1 hour before making the dough. Cut it up into about 10 small pieces with a pastry scraper or serrated knife. Cover it with a towel or plastic wrap and let sit for 1 hour to take off the chill.

2. Stir together the flour, salt, and yeast in a 4-quart bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer). Add the pate fermentée, eggs, honey, oil, and water. Stir (or mix on low speed with the paddle attachment) for 1 minute, or until the ingredients form a ball. If there is still some loose flour, add a little extra water.

3. Lightly dust the counter with flour, transfer the dough to the counter, and begin kneading (or mix on medium speed with the dough hook). Knead for about 10 minutes (6 minutes by machine), adding flour, if needed, to make a dough that is soft and supple, tacky but not sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

4. Ferment at room temperature for 2 hours, or until the dough doubles in size.

5. Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into 12 to 18 equal pieces (I divide mine into 3 ounce pieces for medium size rolls).

6. Prepare the individual rolls by knotting them. To knot them, roll out a round of dough into a 12-inch strand (shorter for smaller rolls). Tie a simple knot. Loop the two ends through the center of the knot a second time. Place the rolls, cut side down, on a parchment lined sheet pan lightly misted with spray oil. Mist lightly with spray oil, and loosely cover the pan with plastic wrap.

7. Proof the rolls for 45 minutes at room temperature, then flip them over so the cut or folded side is facing up. Mist again with spray oil, cover the pan, and continue proofing for another 30 to 45 minutes, or until the rolls are double their original size.

8. Preheat the oven to 425° F with the oven rack on the middle shelf. Uncover the rolls and prepare them for baking by brushing tops of rolls with an egg yolk and 1 TBSP of water.

9. Place the pan in the oven, spray the oven walls with water, and close the door. After 10 minutes, rotate the pan for even baking and lower the oven setting to 400° F. Continue baking until the rolls are a medium golden brown and register approximately 200° F in the center. This will take 15 to 20 minutes for large rolls, or less for smaller rolls.

10. Remove the rolls from the pan and transfer to a cooling rack. Wait at least 30 minutes before serving.

1. Stir together yeast and water, then stir in the flours and salt in a 4-quart bowl (or in the bowl of a standing mixer) until everything comes together and makes a coarse ball (or mix on low speed for 1 minute with the paddle attachment). Adjust the flour or water, according to need, so that the dough is neither too sticky nor too stiff. (It is better to err on the sticky side, as you can adjust easier during kneading. It is harder to add water once the dough firms up.)

2. Sprinkle some flour on the counter and transfer the dough to the counter. Knead for 4 to 6 minutes (or mix on medium speed with the dough hook for 4 minutes), or until the dough is soft and pliable, tacky but not sticky.

3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and ferment at room temperature for 1 hour, or until it swells to about 1½ times its original size.

4. Remove the dough from the bowl, knead it slightly to degas, and return it to the bowl, covering the bowl with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight. You can keep this in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze it in an airtight plastic bag for up to 3 months.